A. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Joseph Carino, Richard Aries, Robert Dickinson, and Ed Havens Jr.
Members Absent: Frank Ferrero, Carol Fletterick, and Michael Patitucci
Alternates Present:Thomas Deming sitting in for Carol Fletterick
Richard Siedman sitting in for Frank Ferrero
Alternates Absent: None
Staff Present: C. Fred Shaw, Superintendent of Pollution Control
Others Present: John J. Mitchell, Sr., Applicant - 1209 Sullivan Avenue
Mario Giroux, Applicant - 250 Beelzebub Road
Chairman Carino called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. The following actions were taken during the July 15, 2008 Regular Meeting of the W.P.C.A.
Motion to move to Item C: "New Business."
The motion was made by Mr. Havens, Jr.
Seconded by Mr. Deming
The motion carried unanimously
C. NEW BUSINESS
1. 1209 Sullivan Avenue (Approval to connect to sewer line)
The Mitchell Fuel Company on 1209 Sullivan Avenue is currently serviced by a septic system. When approval was given to River Walk a stub was provided should the need be there to hook up to the Town system. Mr. Shaw stated the capacity of the line was sufficient, there were no floor drains. An easement is already in place.
Motion to approve the application as presented for connection to an existing main sewer of property located at 1209 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT as more specifically shown on plans entitled "River Walk, 1235 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, Connecticut"; Prepared by Design Professionals, Inc., South Windsor, CT; Sheet No.: 4 of 8, "Grading & Utilities Plan", Job No. 1687, Drawing No.: server/jobs/1687/1687-4; Dated 11-02-2004; Revision Dates: 4-17-07, 9-26-06, 8-31-06, 5-30-06, 4-13-06, 11-7-05, 9-27-05, 8-29-05, 6-23-05, 6-6-05, 4-26-05, 4-8-05, and 12-09-04. This motion is subject to the following conditions: (1) a final document of a private easement between the properties must be reviewed and approved by the Town Attorney; (2) final technical approval of the Town of South Windsor
Engineering Department.
Motion was made by Mr. Dickinson
Motion was seconded by Mr. Deming
The motion carried unanimously
2. 250 Beelzebub Road, Mario Giroux (Approval to connect to sewer line)
Mr. Shaw explained that this is a single subdivided lot with a straightforward connection using 6" PVC direct to the main line with the proper slope of 2%.
Motion to approve the application as presented for connection to the Town's sewerage system of residential property located at 250 Beelzebub Road, South Windsor, CT as more specifically shown on plans entitled "Plot Plan, Lot 2 #250 Beelzebub Road, Prepared for Giroux Construction, South Windsor, Conn.", Prepared by Aeschliman Land Surveying, PC, 1379 Main Street, East Hartford, Conn., Dated 6-5-08, Map No.: 208045-1; This motion is subject to final technical approval of the Town of South Windsor Engineering Department.
Motion was made by Mr. Aries
Motion was seconded by Mr. Dickinson
The motion carried unanimously
Motion was made to move to Item E of the Agenda: "Public Participation (Items not on the agenda".
Motion was made by Mr. Aries
Motion was seconded by Mr. Siedman
The motion carried unanimously
E. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (Items not on the agenda)
Mr. John Mitchell spoke about the current policy that requires that a prorated user fee be paid at the time of connection to the sewer. Mr. Mitchell explained that at River Walk there are units that haven't yet been occupied but are paying sewer user fees. Mr. Mitchell stated that he felt that it was unfair and requested that the Authority reconsider the practice of billing for sewer use before the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.).
Chairman Carino agreed that the Commission would take that under advisement.
Motion made to add to the Agenda Item B2: Approval of minutes of the Public Hearing held on June 3, 2008.
Motion was made by Mr. Dickinson
Motion was seconded by Mr. Aries
Motion carried unanimously
Motion to go back to Item B: "Acceptance of Minutes of Previous Meetings."
Motion was made by Mr. Deming
Seconded by Mr. Aries
The motion carried unanimously
B. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1. June 3, 2008 REGULAR MEETING
The minutes of June 3, 2008 regular meeting were modified as follows:
On page 3, Item D: "Communications and Reports", 1st sentence which reads as follows: "Shaw noted that comments process have not been received…" Remove the word "process"; therefore, the sentence should read as follows: "Shaw noted that comments have not been received from DEP on design plans for the plant."
Motion to approve the minutes of June 3, 2008 Regular Meeting as amended.
Motion was made by Mr. Havens, Jr.
Motion was seconded by Mr. Siedman
The motion carried unanimously
2. June 3, 2008 PUBLIC HEARING
The minutes of June 3, 2008 Public Hearing were modified as follows:
Add all regular members that were present at the Public Hearing.
Remove Gary Bazzano's name as a participant (he did not speak).
Page 2 last line addition of last name and address Carl Leanrt, 74 Partridge Lane.
Motion to approve the minutes of June 3, 2008 Public Meeting as amended.
Motion was made by Mr. Havens, Jr.
Motion was seconded by Mr. Siedman
The motion carried unanimously
C. NEW BUSINESS
3. November 2008 Referendum (Discussion)
On July 1, 2008 members of staff, Town Attorney, Town Manager, Bond Council Attorney, Bond Consultants, Mr. Carino, Mr. Shaw, Director of Public Works, Mayor Streeter attended a meeting to discuss how to proceed and prepare for a November 2008 referendum. It was determined that for the Town Council to set a date for the referendum it had to be done in early September and their first September meeting is on the 2nd. The attorneys were given specific assignments and the Town Attorney is preparing the referendum question. A proposal was considered to finance projects with a 20 year bond issue preceded by a 2 year (or longer) note to allow time for the opportunity to acquire a state grant. Once bonds are issued, the award of a State grant would no longer be possible. The Bond counsel from Robinson
Cole is responsible for preparing the resolutions for W.P.C.A. and Town Council relative to financing of this project.
They also directed the consulting engineers for both the plant upgrade and the pump stations to update the costs. Costs were received on Friday, July 17, 2008, but there was an error made, and the revised costs were received today. There have been tremendous increases in costs. Since last November the plant costs have gone up by almost 6 million dollars. The attorneys have also been asked to look at the public information brochure that will go out to the public so as to insure that no referendum laws will be violated. The Town Council has tentatively set a meeting for July 28th to consider these matters. It was decided there would be no municipal, general fund support. When they go out to market the notes and eventually the bonds they will do so as if they were general obligation
bonds. In reality the debt service will be funded by sewer user fees. Town Manager was comfortable with this type of arrangement. It was decided there will be an agreement between WPCA and Council on how these projects will be funded. The Town Attorney will put together the agreement. WPCA will need to hold public hearing and make recommendation to the Council. A special meeting will need to be held in August. Mr. Shaw thought that there was a public hearing held last year on the treatment plant but not on the pump stations. Mr. Shaw will confirm. Chairman Carino would like to see WPCA members prepared to make their recommendations to Council.
Motion was made to hold a public hearing on August 19, 2008 at 7 pm, special meeting on August 19, 2008 at 8 pm.
Motion was made by Mr. Deming
Motion was seconded by Mr. Siedman
The motion carried unanimously
Mr. Deming requested that notification be mailed to all members of the WPCA regarding time and date of this special meeting.
4. South Windsor/Vernon Intertown Sewer Agreement (Discussion -Sewer Billing Process)
Mr. Shaw stated that a copy of the intertown agreement was sent to the Town Attorney for his opinion. The user fees have really increased. There are about 462 South Windsor properties served by the Vernon system. The fees have gone up considerably, particularly in warmer months of the year. The flow measurements are provided by the CT Water Company which includes water that never gets into the sewer. The agreement doesn't specify how flow should be metered. Mr. Shaw proposed that flow meters be installed within the three gravity sewer lines that convey South Windsor wastewater to the Vernon system. The Vernon Director of Water Pollution Control will bring this subject to the Vernon Water Pollution Control Authority for its consideration. The Vernon Director was concerned about
setting precedent. Vernon residents are billed using water consumption figures. Mr. Shaw explained that it wouldn't set a precedent because use of flow meters would be a direct measure of flow. It was noticed that because Vernon as using water consumption numbers, South Windsor was exceeding the average annual flow rate as provided in the Agreement. Mr. Shaw is proposing that meters be placed at the three locations where wastewater enters the Vernon system.
D. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
Mr. Shaw reported that the State Continuing Committee for the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) approved the Town's request to update the OPM Conservation and Development Plan map to reflect existing development within the Town. The Town plan of development must be in compliance with the OPM Plan in order for the Town to be eligible for future State grants and loans.
F. BILLS, CHANGE ORDERS, DISBURSEMENTS
None
G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Deming asked what happed to the people on Lawrence Road. Mr. Shaw said that he had received an email from one resident asking what the status was. Mr. Shaw explained to the resident that the sewer was approved, but the road improvement project was not approved. Mr. Shaw explained to the resident that the Town was still on schedule to go out to bid and begin the project in the spring. However, after a discussion with the Town Engineer last week, it sounded like they were prepared to do the design and go out for bid this fall. Mr. Shaw was unsure whether the sewer could be completed in the fall.
H. MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING CLAIMS
None
I. ADJOURNMENT
Motion made to adjourn meeting at 8:15 p.m.
The motion was made by Mr. Havens
Seconded by Mr. Deming
The motion carried unanimously
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________
Elizabeth Locicero
Recording Secretary
Originally Posted: July 17, 2008
Date Approved: October 7, 2008
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